Sawhorse



April 1955 R. A. GILMOUR 3,180,452

SAWHORSE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 9, 1963 INVENTOR. I 1%55197 4 G/uwaue BY April 1955 R. A. GILMOUR 3,180,452

SAWHORSE Filed April 9, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jig 4 mvmon 0656?- /7. 691110012 M Qua/4AM United States Patent Ofiice aisarsz Eatented Apr. 2?, 11965 3,18%,452 SAWHUPEE Robert A. Gilmour, Gilmour Manufacturing 80., Somerset, Pa. Filed Apr. 9, 1983, Ser. No. 271,708 9 Claims. (Cl. 182-181) This invention relates to supporting devices and more particularly to supporting devices of the type adapted to be used as sawhorses, road barricades, or for supporting table tops and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type described which includes an elongated horizontally extending member and a pair of leg structures, and improved means for attaching and detaching the leg structures in operative supporting position with respect to the elongated member, which means is simple and effective in operation.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a supporting leg structure of the type described which is capable of being easily engaged in an initial position of engagement with respect to the elongated member and then swung into an operative supporting position.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a leg structure of the type described having improved means for retaining the leg structure in its operative supporting position, which means is efiective in response to the swinging movement of the leg structure into its operative supporting position and releasable to permit the leg structure to be moved out of its operative supporting position.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a leg structure of the type described, having means for positively retaining the same in operative supporting relation with respect to the elongated member.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of the device of the type described which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and effective in operation.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent in the course of the following description of the invention.

The invention may be best understood with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of device for use as a sawhorse or, as shown, for supporting a table top or the like, which embodies the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the upper end portion of the leg structure shown in FlGUR'E 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the manner in which the leg structure is initially engaged with the elongated member and then swung into operative supporting position with respect thereto.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in Fi URES l and 2 a device, generally indicated at lit which embodies the principles of the present invention. The device id is intended to be used as a sawhorse, road barricade, or as a support for a table top or the like, such as the table top 12 shown in FIGURES l and 2. The device it) includes the usual saw horse components, namely, an elongated member 14- which may be in the form of a 2 x 4, 2 x 6 or other conventional construction, and a pair of supporting leg structures generally indicated at 16, which are detachably en ageable with opposite end portions of the elongated member 14 so as to support the latter in a horizontal operative position.

Since the construction and operation of both support ing leg structures are the same, a detailed description of one will sutfice to give an understanding of both. As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, each leg structure 16 is preferably constructed of rod stock, and with the particular embodiment illustrated, the leg structure is formed from two rods of circular cross-sectional configuration which are bent and rigidly secured together to provide the basic support for the elongated member 14. it will be understood, however, that the leg structures may be formed of a single rod and that any cross-sectional configuration may be employed in lieu of the cross-sectional configuration shown. Moreover, the term rod stock, as embodied herein, comprehends within its meaning other common cross-sectional configurations such as angle irons, channels and the like.

As best shown in FIGURES 3 through 5, the preferred leg structure embodiment 16 illustrated in the drawings includes a pair of upright parallel portions 18 which are spaced apart a distance suiiicient to receive therebetween the elongated member 14, which includes a pair of opposed side surfaces 2% and a pair of upper and lower parallel surfaces 22 and 24.

The upper extremity of each of the parallel portions 18 is bent into a hooloshaped portion or configuration, as indicated at 26 and best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. Each hook-shaped portion is shaped to face in a generally downward direction so as to engage the outwardly extending end portions of a pin 28 extending through the elongated member 14 at a position spaced inwardly from the associated end thereof and between the upper and lower surfaces 22 and 24 thereof.

Extending transversely inwardly from the lower end of each parallel portion 13 is a short supporting portion 3%. The supporting portions 3% of each leg structure 16 are rigidly secured together, as by welding or the like adjacent the ends thereof opposite the lower extremities of the lower portion 18. Extending downwardly from each of the last mentioned supporting portion ends is a straight leg portion 32. As best shown in FIGURE 2, the straight leg portions 32 are disposed in substantially abutting relation and their lower ends are rigidly secured together by any suitable means such as welding or the like. Extending downwardly and outwardly from the lower end of each straight leg portion 33 is a second leg portion 34, the lower extremity of which is bent, as indicated at 34-, in a horizontal direction, parallel to the longitudinal extent of the elongated member 14. Preferably, the extremities of the floor engaging bent ends 34- are covered with cup-shaped floor engaging grommets or pads 36 of rubber or other suitable material.

Each leg structure 16 also includes a latching mechanism or means, generally indicated at 3 5. Each latching mechanism preferably comprises a latching plate having a transverse bend 46 formed intermittent the ends thereof and engaged over the supporting portion full. The latching plate includes a supporting portion 42 extending horizontally from the bend 4t and terminating in an inverted L-shaped latching portion 44. Extending downwardly from the bend 46 is a generally U-shaped latching plate portion 45 having a central aperture 4-8 formed therein. Extending through the aperture 43 and threadedly engaged within the adjacent leg portions 32 is a horizontally extending stud 5%. A coil spring 52 is disposed in surrounding relation to the threaded stud St) between a nut 54 engaged on the outer extremity of the stud and the U-shaped latching plate portion 46 surrounding the aperture 48. The stud 5%, spring 52, and nut 54 con- Operation One of the salient features of the device of the present invention is that the component parts can be quickly and easily detached'for storage or assembled into operative position. It will be noted that the leg structures 16 when detached from the elongated member 14, may be readily stored in a minimum of space so that the entire device .in its disassembled or knocked down condition is easily stored. Assuming that the leg structure and elongated member are disposed in disassembled relation, they are assembled in the following manner. supporting leg structure is moved either over the associated end of the elongated member, or upwardly past the lower surface 24 thereof, so that the side surfaces of the elongated member are disposed between the parallel portions 18. It will be noted that the upwardly facing supporting surface of the latching plate 42 is disposed below the downwardly facing hooked end portions 26 a distance sufficient to permit vertical movements of the hooked end portions 26 with respect to the pivot pins 28. In this way, the hooked end portions 26 may be engaged over and then moved downwardly into engagement with pivot pin end portions, as illustrated in solid, lines in FIGURE 5.

With the hooked end portions 26 engaged on the ends of the pivot pin 28, the leg structure is pivoted or swung in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 5, toward the dotted line position shown therein. It will be noted that during this movement just prior to the engagement of the upwardly facing surface of the horizontal latching plate portion 42 with the lower surface 24 of the elongated member, the inverted L-shaped latching portion 44 will engage the lower adjacent corner of the elongated member so as to cause the latching plate to Each plate on the leg structure in an operative latching positionpivot about the bent portion against the action of the a coil spring 52. As the horizontal latching plate portion 44 moves into supporting engagement with the lower surface 24 of the elongated member, the inverted L-shaped latching portion 44' engages the end surface of the elon gated member thus retaining the leg structure in an operative supporting position with respect to the elongated member.

It will be noted that when both leg structures are disposed in their operative positions, any vertical load applied to the elongated member 14, such as the table top 12, is supported directly by the leg structures through the supporting portions 30 and the leg portions 32 and 33. Moreover, this direct support provided by each leg structure extends at an angle to the vertical which tends to effect at pivotal movement of the leg structures about the supporting portions 30in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 5. Thistendency for the leg'structures to pivot with respect to the elongated members as load is applied to the latter is resisted by the engagement of the hooked end portions 26 with the ends of the pivot pins 28. a

It will also be noted that this tendency of the leg structures to pivot under load acts in a direction which tends to maintain the latching plate in engagement with the elongated member. Consequently, with the arrangement shown, the latching means need not have a strength sufficient to retain the leg structures in operative position under normal operating conditions. The primary function of the latching means is to permit the leg assemblies to be retained in operative position with respect to the elongated member in the event that it becomes necessary to lift the entire device, as by the elongated member from one positionto another during use. It will be noted that in the absence of the latching means, the leg structures would swing downwardly in the event that the elongated member is lifted upwardly. Consequently, without the provision of the latching means, the entire device 4 would be very unstable from the standpoint of movement from one point to another. 7

It will be understood that once the supporting leg struc ture has been latched into operative supporting engagement with respect to the latching member 14, it may be disengaged therefrom merelyby moving downwardly on the inverted L-shaped portion 34 to disengage the latter from the corner of the elongated member thus permitting the leg assembly to'swing downwardly into the initial engaging position and then by a slight upward movement to unhook positions 26 from the pivot pins 28.

The latching means 38 serve to resiliently retain the leg structures in operative position with respect to the leg members 14. In the drawings there is disclosed a positive locking means which may be used in conjunction with either the latching, means 38 or in lieu thereof. As shown the, locking means may be in the form of a headed pin or the like 56 insertable within an aperture 58 formed in the elongated member 14 after the leg structure has been moved into its operative supporting position.

One of the advantages of the hooked end arrangement of the present leg, structure is that the leg structures can be detached from and connected with the elongated member without the necessity of gaining access to the upper surface 22 of the elongated member. Consequently, the elongated member can be fixedly secured beneath a table top such as the top 12 and the leg structures can be readily attached and detached to the elongated members.

1 Of course, in either event the upper surface of the elongated member is unobstructed when the leg structures are disposed in operative position.

It will be appreciated that the leg structures may be economically fabricated simply by bending rod stock into the configuration indicated above and providing rigid securement, as by welding or the like, of the two rod stock portions together. The longitudinally bent floor engaging portions provide good stability to the leg structures both transversely as well as longitudinally.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for use as a sawhorse or for supporting a table top or the like comprising an elongated member having a pair of parallel side surfaces and parallel upper and lower surfaces, a pair of leg structures engageable and disengageable with said elongated member for supporting the same in a substantially horizontal position, each of said leg structures including a pair of rigid parallel portions spaced apart a distance sufficient to receive the opposite side surfaces .ofsaid elongated member therebetween, downwardly facing means on the upper extremities on each of said parallel portions, means on said elongated member between the upper and lower surfaces there of adjacent each end portion thereof for receiving the downwardlyifacing means of said leg assemblies so as to prevent downward and longitudinal movement and permit upward and limited pivotal movement of said downwardly facing means with respect to said elongated member, support means extending between and rigid with the lower ends of the parallel portions of each of said leg structures, said support means having an upper surface facing toward the lower surface of said elongated member, said support means being spaced below the associated downwardly facing means a distance sufficient to permit the associated downwardly facing means to be initially engaged with and disengaged from the associated receiving means of said elongated member by vertical movements with the associated support means disposed below the lower surface of said elongated member, each of said leg structures being swingable from said initially engaged position into an operative supporting position wherein the associated support means is disposed in supporting engagement with the lower surface of said elongated member at a position spaced longitudinally from the associated receiving means, each of said leg structures also including a leg portion rigid with the associated parallel portions and having floor engaging means on the lower extremity thereof, and releasably engageable means acting between each of said leg structures and said elongated member engageable to retain said leg structures in said operative supporting position and releasable to permit movement of said leg structures from said operative supporting position to said initially engaged position.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said downwardly facing means comprises a hooked end portion formed on the upper end of each of said parallel portions.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said receiving means comprises pivot pin portions extending outwardly of each side surface of said elongated member of a size to engage within an associated hook end portion.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said releasable means comprises a latch member swingably carried by the associated leg structure for movement between a latching position and a releasing position, said latch member ineluding a portion arranged to engage the associated extremity of said elongated member when disposed in said latching position, and resilient means for biasing said latch member into said latching position.

5. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said leg portion includes a pair of downwardly and outwardly diverging rod portions, the lower extremity of each of said rod portions being bent in a longitudinal direction so as to form said floor engaging means.

6. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said releasably engageable means includes means for effecting engagement thereof in response to the swinging movement of the associated leg structure from said initially engaged position to said operative supporting position.

7. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the position of supporting engagement between the support means of each leg structure and the lower surface of said elongated member when the latter are disposed in said operative position is longitudinally intermediate the position of engagement of the associated downwardly facing means and receiving means and the position of said floor engaging means.

8. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the construction and disposition of the downwardly facing means of each leg assembly and the associated receiving means are such as to permit the downwardly facing means to be moved into and out of engagement with the receiving means while at all times maintaining the leg assembly below the upper surface of said elongated member.

9. A pair of leg structures for supporting in a horizontal position an elongated member of the type including a pair of parallel side surfaces, parallel upper and lower surfaces, and pivot means adjacent opposite ends thereof between the upper and lower surfaces thereof, each of said leg structures comprising a pair of rigid parallel portions spaced apart a distance sufficient to receive opposite side surfaces of said elongated member therebetween, downwardly facing means on the upper extremities of said. parallel portions arranged to be engaged with and disengaged from the pivot means adjacent one end of the elongated member by vertical movements, support means extending between and rigid with the lower ends of said parallel portions, said support means having an upper surface facing toward the lower surface of said elongated surface, said support means being spaced below said downwardly facing means a distance sufficient to permit the initial engagement and disengagement of said downwardly facing means with the associated pivot means of the elongated member with said support means disposed below the lower surface of the elongated member, said leg structure when disposed in initial engagement with the pivot means of the elongated member being swingable from said position into an operative supporting position wherein said support means will be disposed in supporting engagement with the lower surface of the elongated member at a position spaced longitudinally from the associated pivot means, a leg portion rigid with said parallel portions and having floor engaging means on the lower extremity thereof, and means carried by said leg structure engageable with the elongated member to retain the leg structure in said operative supporting position and releasable to permit movement of the leg structure from said operative supporting position to said initially engaged position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,150,794 8/ 15 Varache 182-455 1,687,820 10/ 28 Acker 182-224 1,819,780 8/31 Kraut 182-184 1,954,935 4/34 Karnes 18292 1,977,313 10/34 Koken 248-221 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR USE AS A SAWHORSE OR FOR SUPPORTING A TABLE TOP OR THE LIKE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF PARALLEL SIDE SURFACES AND PARALLEL UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES, A PAIR OF LEG STRUCTURES ENGAGEABLE AND DISENGAGEABLE WITH SAID ELONGATED MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING THE SAME IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION, EACH OF SAID LEG STRUCTURES INCLUDING A PAIR OF RIGID PARALLEL PORTIONS SPACED APART A DISTANCE SUFFICIENT TO RECEIVE THE OPPOSITE SIDE SURFACES OF SAID ELONGATED MEMBER THEREBETWEEN, DOWNWARDLY FACING MEANS ON THE UPPER EXTREMITIES ON EACH OF SAID PARALLEL PORTIONS, MEANS ON SAID ELONGATED MEMBER BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES THEREOF ADJACENT EACH END PORTION THEREOF FOR RECEIVING THE DOWNWARDLY FACING MEANS OF SAID LEG ASSEMBLIES SO AS TO PREVENT DOWNWARDLY AND LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT AND PERMIT UPWARD AND LIMITED PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID DOWNWARDLY FACING MEANS WITH RESPECT TO SAID ELONGATED MEMBER; SUPPORT MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN AND RIGID WITH THE LOWER ENDS OF THE PARALLEL PORTIONS OF EACH OF SAID LEG STRUCTURES, SAID SUPPORT MEANS HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE FACING TOWARD THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID ELONGATED MEMBER, SAID SUPPORT MEANS BEING SPACED BELOW THE ASSOCIATED DOWNWARDLY FACING MEANS A DISTANCE SUFFICIENT TO PERMIT THE ASSOCIATED DOWNWARDLY FACING MEANS TO BE INITIALLY ENGAGED WITH AND DISENGAGED FROM THE ASSOCIATED RECEIVING MEANS OF SAID ELONGATED MEMBER BY VERTICAL MOVEMENTS WITH THE ASSOCIATED SUPPORT MEANS DISPOSED BELOW THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID ELONGATED MEMBER, EACH OF SAID LEG STRUCTURES BEING SWINGABLE FROM SAID INITIALLY ENGAGED POSITION INTO AN OPERATIVE SUPPORTING POSITION WHEREIN THE ASSOCIATED SUPPORT MEANS IS DISPOSED IN SUPPORTING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID ELONGATED MEMBER AT A POSITION SPACED LONGITUDINALLY FROM THE ASSOCIATED RECEIVING MEANS, EACH OF SAID LEG STRUCTURES ALSO INCLUDING A LEG PORTION RIGID WITH THE ASSOCIATED PARALLEL PORTIONS AND HAVING FLOOR ENGAGING MEANS ON THE LOWER EXTREMITY THEREOF, AND RELEASABLY ENGAGEABLE MEANS ACTING BETWEEN EACH OF SAID LEG STRUCTURES AND SAID ELONGATED MEMBER ENGAGEABLE TO RETAIN SAID LEG STRUCTURES IN SAID OPERATIVE SUPPORTING POSITION AND RELEASABLE TO PERMIT MOVEMENT OF SAID LEG STRUCTURES FROM SAID OPERATIVE SUPPORTING POSITION TO SAID INITIALLY ENGAGED POSITION. 